Spotted by officer, suspect flashes the peace sign

A man suspected of stealing a pickup truck flashed a peace sign to an Escondido police officer before he sped off in the vehicle Friday night, but the rest of his evening wasn’t very tranquil.

The man was arrested after he crashed the truck following a short pursuit, Escondido police Sgt. Mike Kearney said.

The incident began when police got an afternoon call about a pickup truck being driven erratically in the east part of town, Kearney said. The caller reported the license plate number of the truck, which had been stolen earlier Friday in Riverside.

The truck later hit several parked vehicles on East Valley Parkway near North Ash Street. Officers and a sheriff’s helicopter crew searched for the truck, but did not find the vehicle.

About 6 p.m., an officer spotted the truck parked in front of a Vons on Valley Parkway at North Citrus Avenue. A man sitting in the truck flashed the peace sign at the officer and then fled at a high rate of speed, Kearney said.

Officers pursued the truck, assisted by two sheriff’s deputies who were working in unincorporated Escondido.

At Valley Parkway and Rose Street, the truck hit a vehicle and the suspect got out and ran. He was tackled by a citizen just as officers arrived. He was arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft and felony evading, Kearney said.

The driver and passenger in the vehicle were evaluated for complaints of pain.